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This Eclipsed Crown
Three hearts. Two Kingdoms. One dark vow.
NO ONE TOLD Thera of Erebus how heavy her late father’s crown would be. But the newly appointed Shadow King feels its weight as she fights a war on two sides; against the Shadowborne, the vicious race of monsters terrorizing her people–and the vast, resourceful Luxian Empire. To end the bloodshed, the former ‘soul eater’ lays down her sword and forges a deal, offering to marry the Prince of Lux and settle the ages-long conflict once and for all– as long as she can keep her dark, shadowed past a secret.
No one told Prince Caelum Borealis how to lead. Cast in his father’s long, impressive shadow, he has lived his days studying the texts of his people without ever seeing the action, his illness keeping him caged in his own body. But when the new King of Erebus offers him a proposition--his hand in marriage for the promise of her dark power—Caelum has the opportunity to carve his own name into the history books and finally make his late mother proud.
No one told Aurora Bellatore the true price of a life. Since she swore her oath as the youngest Captain of the Guard in Luxian history, she would gladly give her life for the kingdom of Lux-- and for her beloved Prince Caelum. But when tasked to discreetly kill the new King of Erebus, she must decide which she’d rather sacrifice; her position, or her honor.
As Kingdoms eclipse and bonds shatter, as truths come to light and betrayals are exposed, Thera, Aurora, and Caelum must make the choice to either fill the roles they’ve been given, or to let their hearts lead; and risk breaking them.
NO ONE TOLD Thera of Erebus how heavy her late father’s crown would be. But the newly appointed Shadow King feels its weight as she fights a war on two sides; against the Shadowborne, the vicious race of monsters terrorizing her people–and the vast, resourceful Luxian Empire. To end the bloodshed, the former ‘soul eater’ lays down her sword and forges a deal, offering to marry the Prince of Lux and settle the ages-long conflict once and for all– as long as she can keep her dark, shadowed past a secret.
No one told Prince Caelum Borealis how to lead. Cast in his father’s long, impressive shadow, he has lived his days studying the texts of his people without ever seeing the action, his illness keeping him caged in his own body. But when the new King of Erebus offers him a proposition--his hand in marriage for the promise of her dark power—Caelum has the opportunity to carve his own name into the history books and finally make his late mother proud.
No one told Aurora Bellatore the true price of a life. Since she swore her oath as the youngest Captain of the Guard in Luxian history, she would gladly give her life for the kingdom of Lux-- and for her beloved Prince Caelum. But when tasked to discreetly kill the new King of Erebus, she must decide which she’d rather sacrifice; her position, or her honor.
As Kingdoms eclipse and bonds shatter, as truths come to light and betrayals are exposed, Thera, Aurora, and Caelum must make the choice to either fill the roles they’ve been given, or to let their hearts lead; and risk breaking them.
550 pages, Hardcover
Published June 21, 2024
5 people are currently reading
4486 people want to read
About the author
Lina C. Amarego
7 books223 followersGrowing up on the east coast in small-town New Jersey, Lina spent her early days playing pretend and making up stories for her friends and family, a pastime that would soon turn into a lifelong passion for storytelling in all its forms. A recovering theatre kid at heart and a therapist by profession, Lina loves the study of human behavior and relationships, infusing both into her writing craft. When she's not scribbling ideas about fictional worlds into the margins of her notebooks, Lina spends her time reading anything she can get her hands on, driving her husband crazy with her wild daydreams, and snuggling her adorable pup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 7, 2024
This book left me STARVING for more! It snatched me up from the very first chapter and gripped me all the way until the end, when it spat me out feeling...well...a little chewed up. But in a good way?
First of all, I loved the premise: enemy kingdoms trying to form a peace alliance through marriage, though one of them may/may not have ulterior motives. The world-building was fairly simple but immersive, and it seeped through every page. Very well done.
The characters and their interactions were what made the story for me, though! Our three MCs had such depth. Tortured, lonely Thera. Fiery, desperate Rory. Innocent, curious Caelum. Though I wanted to shake them at times, there was something relatable about each of them. It was so refreshing to have the MMC needing to be protected by the FMCs for once, and the tension building between them all could have been cut by a knife.
If you're looking for a new high fantasy read full of magic and politics, danger and budding romance, where the stakes are high and the ending will leave you screaming in despair, I highly recommend you give this book a try!
*I was provided an eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I loved the premise: enemy kingdoms trying to form a peace alliance through marriage, though one of them may/may not have ulterior motives. The world-building was fairly simple but immersive, and it seeped through every page. Very well done.
The characters and their interactions were what made the story for me, though! Our three MCs had such depth. Tortured, lonely Thera. Fiery, desperate Rory. Innocent, curious Caelum. Though I wanted to shake them at times, there was something relatable about each of them. It was so refreshing to have the MMC needing to be protected by the FMCs for once, and the tension building between them all could have been cut by a knife.
If you're looking for a new high fantasy read full of magic and politics, danger and budding romance, where the stakes are high and the ending will leave you screaming in despair, I highly recommend you give this book a try!
*I was provided an eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2024
I got the ARC for this book and I have to say that I was not disappointed. The plot surprised me as the usual MMC and FMC roles were reversed. I do look forward to the next book because things ended very complicated for the main characters. I do want to know how this is going to end. Overall, dry solid book and quite enjoyable!
June 21, 2024
“Shadowcraft was the art of discipline, but politics were the art of deceit. Deadly games of give and take, of hide and seek. And unfortunately for the Luxian nobility, I was talented at both.”
Thera of Erebus is the newly crowned King of Shadows. She will do anything for her kingdom even if that means proposing marriage to the son of her enemy, King Kato of Lux, to attempt to broker peace.
His son, Caelum, the sheltered and spoiled crown prince who is battling with a debilitating chronic illness faces this marriage proposal full of hope and his heart on his sleeve.
Rory, the youngest Captain in Lux and Caelum’s personal guard, is tasked by the King to kill Caelum’s new fiancee but will she be able to lie to her prince and oldest friend (maybe a little more than a friend…?) and go behind his back?
This is a new dark fantasy by Lina C. Amarego and it completely blew me away! The writing is amazing and it was so easy to picture and imagine the setting and how all the different characters fit within it and with each other. That is to say, the world-building is immaculate.💜 The pacing of the book was also very well balanced with the world-building and I was able to truly connect with the characters and understand their background and actions as their characters were developed layer by layer.
The last 100 or so pages had me captivated!😲 I wanted to cry, throw the book across the room and often gasped at all the twists and turns!
Some highlights:
💜A truly well-written juicy and messy love triangle between Thera, Caelum, and Rory!
💜A twist on common gender roles and tropes in fantasy.
💜 This story has the perfect amount of intrigue, tension, secrets, and sabotage to keep you on your toes! This one is for the readers looking for a new dark fantasy to dig into!
I can’t wait for the next one!
Thera of Erebus is the newly crowned King of Shadows. She will do anything for her kingdom even if that means proposing marriage to the son of her enemy, King Kato of Lux, to attempt to broker peace.
His son, Caelum, the sheltered and spoiled crown prince who is battling with a debilitating chronic illness faces this marriage proposal full of hope and his heart on his sleeve.
Rory, the youngest Captain in Lux and Caelum’s personal guard, is tasked by the King to kill Caelum’s new fiancee but will she be able to lie to her prince and oldest friend (maybe a little more than a friend…?) and go behind his back?
This is a new dark fantasy by Lina C. Amarego and it completely blew me away! The writing is amazing and it was so easy to picture and imagine the setting and how all the different characters fit within it and with each other. That is to say, the world-building is immaculate.💜 The pacing of the book was also very well balanced with the world-building and I was able to truly connect with the characters and understand their background and actions as their characters were developed layer by layer.
The last 100 or so pages had me captivated!😲 I wanted to cry, throw the book across the room and often gasped at all the twists and turns!
Some highlights:
💜A truly well-written juicy and messy love triangle between Thera, Caelum, and Rory!
💜A twist on common gender roles and tropes in fantasy.
💜 This story has the perfect amount of intrigue, tension, secrets, and sabotage to keep you on your toes! This one is for the readers looking for a new dark fantasy to dig into!
I can’t wait for the next one!
June 21, 2024
A delightful, indulgent romp that feels like it was written for me specifically. Badass women, soft boy, polyam/queer love structures. Incredible. You can feel the love for the story from Amarego. Some of the mysteries and twists I saw coming, but definitely not all of them, and I think that's how it should be.
Absolute recommendation from me.
Absolute recommendation from me.
July 2, 2024
If you are looking for a new fantasy romance, I cannot recommend THIS ECLIPSED CROWN enough. I love the familiar tropes that Amarego uses (enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, forced marriage, love triangle, powerful female heroines, a secret rebellion) while also offering fresh elements to the 🧚🏿 genre such as:
• An emotionally intelligent male protagonist in Caelum. So often the male love interest is a brooding, dark figure but I love how Caelum wears his heart ❤️ on his sleeve and struggles with navigating his role as heir to the throne 🏰
• A queer love triangle between Caelum, Thera, and Aurora 💞 It’s messy, complicated and I am sooo invested! I really don’t know who I want to end up with WHO (I think I’m rooting for Thera and Aurora but 🤔)
• I also want to commend Amarego on her pacing which is often so hard in fantasy novels. She did such an excellent job at spreading moments of romantic tension and intimacy across the book so readers aren’t left hanging. And the ENDING! 😱
I am dying to read the next book in this series which will hopefully be coming out next year! So get your hands on this book so you can prepare for its exciting second installment 📚
• An emotionally intelligent male protagonist in Caelum. So often the male love interest is a brooding, dark figure but I love how Caelum wears his heart ❤️ on his sleeve and struggles with navigating his role as heir to the throne 🏰
• A queer love triangle between Caelum, Thera, and Aurora 💞 It’s messy, complicated and I am sooo invested! I really don’t know who I want to end up with WHO (I think I’m rooting for Thera and Aurora but 🤔)
• I also want to commend Amarego on her pacing which is often so hard in fantasy novels. She did such an excellent job at spreading moments of romantic tension and intimacy across the book so readers aren’t left hanging. And the ENDING! 😱
I am dying to read the next book in this series which will hopefully be coming out next year! So get your hands on this book so you can prepare for its exciting second installment 📚
June 21, 2024
4.5 🌟 I received this book as an ARC and it was my first read by Amarego. I really enjoyed This Eclipsed Crown and can't wait for the next one in the series to come out!
TEC really made the characters come to life with the three person POV. Amarego did a wonderful job of creating a distinct voice for Thera, Caelum, and Aurora. The relationship between each of these three characters was so fun to dive into and the plot kept you hooked from the start. My only wish is that there had been a bit more of a deep dive into the world building and magical systems in the beginning.
Overall, this book took me by surprise in the best way, and I can't wait to discover more of Amarego's novels!
TEC really made the characters come to life with the three person POV. Amarego did a wonderful job of creating a distinct voice for Thera, Caelum, and Aurora. The relationship between each of these three characters was so fun to dive into and the plot kept you hooked from the start. My only wish is that there had been a bit more of a deep dive into the world building and magical systems in the beginning.
Overall, this book took me by surprise in the best way, and I can't wait to discover more of Amarego's novels!
April 10, 2024
Full review to follow
March 27, 2024
I received this book as an ARC.
If you love imperfect characters, dark magic, and tricky politics then this book is for you.
Personally it started off a little slow for me, but about half way through I felt like the plot was moving along and I needed to know what happened next. This book gives you 3 POVs which I think helps you really understand each character personally. Thera was my favorite character and I loved how strong yet vulnerable she was. Caelum was a little annoying to me at first but by the end of the book I loved his development and can’t wait to see where he goes from there. Rory had me on an emotional roller coaster as one minute I hated her and the next I would be pulling for her. I think Lina did a great job at making the characters in this book seem like real people (flawed but relatable). I also like her use of politics showing how each country has a different POV of how things came to be.
If you love imperfect characters, dark magic, and tricky politics then this book is for you.
Personally it started off a little slow for me, but about half way through I felt like the plot was moving along and I needed to know what happened next. This book gives you 3 POVs which I think helps you really understand each character personally. Thera was my favorite character and I loved how strong yet vulnerable she was. Caelum was a little annoying to me at first but by the end of the book I loved his development and can’t wait to see where he goes from there. Rory had me on an emotional roller coaster as one minute I hated her and the next I would be pulling for her. I think Lina did a great job at making the characters in this book seem like real people (flawed but relatable). I also like her use of politics showing how each country has a different POV of how things came to be.
April 2, 2024
Was very happy to receive an ARC for this book and oh man were my emotions all over!! Loved the plot and characters throughout this book. There were quite a few surprises which really made it great!!
March 13, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5*
This Eclipsed Crown had a very slow burn, but by the end, I was enraptured. All the characters were morally grey and engaging.
King Thera of Erebus is committed to helping her people, even if it means marrying her enemy Prince Caelum only to find that he was not what she expected. As politics take their dreadful course and "accidents" occur around all corners, the characters must find a way to protect everyone they care for.
The contrast between a kingdom saturated in light and another perpetually in darkness was compelling especially because of how the characters from each context acted around each other. This Eclipsed Crown is undoubtedly dark. It deals in betrayals, lies, and sorrow, with brief moments of lightheartedness only to crush your heart again.
If you like dark, angsty stories with complex worldbuilding like When the Moon Hatched, This Eclipsed Crown is definitely worth a look!
This Eclipsed Crown had a very slow burn, but by the end, I was enraptured. All the characters were morally grey and engaging.
King Thera of Erebus is committed to helping her people, even if it means marrying her enemy Prince Caelum only to find that he was not what she expected. As politics take their dreadful course and "accidents" occur around all corners, the characters must find a way to protect everyone they care for.
The contrast between a kingdom saturated in light and another perpetually in darkness was compelling especially because of how the characters from each context acted around each other. This Eclipsed Crown is undoubtedly dark. It deals in betrayals, lies, and sorrow, with brief moments of lightheartedness only to crush your heart again.
If you like dark, angsty stories with complex worldbuilding like When the Moon Hatched, This Eclipsed Crown is definitely worth a look!
March 11, 2024
A thrilling new fantasy with some refreshing twists on established roles and tropes within the genre. The standout character for me was definitely Thera, who I found intriguing and complex. As always, Amarego’s rich characterisation and fleshed-out worldbuilding bring about a strong, intriguing story.
The romance dynamics were deliciously complicated and layered, without spoiling there were some pleasantly surprising twists and turns that defied the stereotypical “love triangle”.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs.
The romance dynamics were deliciously complicated and layered, without spoiling there were some pleasantly surprising twists and turns that defied the stereotypical “love triangle”.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs.
March 15, 2024
This is a new series from Lina and wow, I’m hooked!
This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. The characters are complex, the magic is unique and the storytelling easily draws you in.
Quotes from texts set in the same world as the story (such as letters between characters) help to begin each chapter and set the stage for what’s to come.
By the end of the book there are quite a few more questions than answers, but that means I’m now hanging out for the next one!
This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. The characters are complex, the magic is unique and the storytelling easily draws you in.
Quotes from texts set in the same world as the story (such as letters between characters) help to begin each chapter and set the stage for what’s to come.
By the end of the book there are quite a few more questions than answers, but that means I’m now hanging out for the next one!
September 29, 2023
ICONIC! I love Thera so much, she is so powerful and has such a beautiful arc. This book is so well written and I am so lucky to have been blessed with the chance to beta read it. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
June 10, 2025
I was gifted this by a mysterious book fairy who I will find, you glorious menace.
So I went into this book blind. Like, completely blind. No blurb (not until after I started reading, anyway). No idea what it was about. I saw the cover and blacked out. My brain went “pretty” and clicked add to wishlist. Though when I did read the blurb, it did seem very monster romance-esque. This is not a monster romance. The main characters are all elves and one is a soul eater with shadow powers.
Now listen — I’m a straight female reader, so I usually don’t connect as deeply to MM or FF romance when it comes to spice because, well, my brain prefers what it can be inserted into (pun very much intended). But that is not to say I don’t support or appreciate the necessity of inclusive books — because I do. (Read that sentence again if you’re feeling judgey. Go on. I’ll wait.)
This book is MFF... ish. And you know what? I was intrigued. Genuinely surprised by how invested I became in the dynamic — specifically between the two FMCs. One of them? Instant favourite. She said “I’m not a queen, I’m a king, thanks” and decided to completely demolish gendered expectations with a steel spine and a wine goblet in hand. Iconic. Powerful. Crown her with actual fire.
The other FMC? Bit of a rollercoaster. One moment I was rooting for her, the next I was shaking her like a snow globe and screaming “MAKE A DECISION.” But that’s what made her fun — she had layers, and I respect the chaos.
And now we come to him. The MMC. He cried so much I started wondering if he was 90% tears and 10% plot device. At one point I swear I yelled “GROW A SPINE” out loud, and I was in public. Look, I get that he was raised like a little porcelain doll wrapped in bubble wrap with emotional repression as a bedtime story, and I see that his arc is meant to be a journey of growth. But still — the man was a sentient wet napkin for most of the book and I could not ship him with anyone without feeling like I was enabling emotional co-dependency.
That being said… the chemistry between the two women? Spicy tension. Forbidden longing. Vibes. If they ditch the sad prince in book two and become unhinged villain girlfriends ruling the ashes of a kingdom they burned down together, I’ll be seated. I’ll be glued to my throne made of expectations and spite.
Now, on the plot pacing — she meandered. We were on the road so long I felt like I aged a decade and earned a loyalty card from every bump on the road in the realm. Half the book was one single journey and the return trip was wrapped up in like three pages. HOW. Did we get a fast travel pass or something? Not much happened during the travelling either, and definitely could have been edited down.
Despite that, the writing style was immersive, the worldbuilding was brilliant, and the ending? Pain. Beautiful, delicious pain. Thera, my beloved, I’m fully here for your villain era. Burn it all down. Light a match and never look back.
All in all: four solid stars. Could’ve been five if the MMC had a personality transplant sooner and the road trip was less Middle-earth Extended Edition. Still, I’ll be first in line for book two, snacks in hand, waiting for the FMCs to hold hands and destroy the world.
So I went into this book blind. Like, completely blind. No blurb (not until after I started reading, anyway). No idea what it was about. I saw the cover and blacked out. My brain went “pretty” and clicked add to wishlist. Though when I did read the blurb, it did seem very monster romance-esque. This is not a monster romance. The main characters are all elves and one is a soul eater with shadow powers.
Now listen — I’m a straight female reader, so I usually don’t connect as deeply to MM or FF romance when it comes to spice because, well, my brain prefers what it can be inserted into (pun very much intended). But that is not to say I don’t support or appreciate the necessity of inclusive books — because I do. (Read that sentence again if you’re feeling judgey. Go on. I’ll wait.)
This book is MFF... ish. And you know what? I was intrigued. Genuinely surprised by how invested I became in the dynamic — specifically between the two FMCs. One of them? Instant favourite. She said “I’m not a queen, I’m a king, thanks” and decided to completely demolish gendered expectations with a steel spine and a wine goblet in hand. Iconic. Powerful. Crown her with actual fire.
The other FMC? Bit of a rollercoaster. One moment I was rooting for her, the next I was shaking her like a snow globe and screaming “MAKE A DECISION.” But that’s what made her fun — she had layers, and I respect the chaos.
And now we come to him. The MMC. He cried so much I started wondering if he was 90% tears and 10% plot device. At one point I swear I yelled “GROW A SPINE” out loud, and I was in public. Look, I get that he was raised like a little porcelain doll wrapped in bubble wrap with emotional repression as a bedtime story, and I see that his arc is meant to be a journey of growth. But still — the man was a sentient wet napkin for most of the book and I could not ship him with anyone without feeling like I was enabling emotional co-dependency.
That being said… the chemistry between the two women? Spicy tension. Forbidden longing. Vibes. If they ditch the sad prince in book two and become unhinged villain girlfriends ruling the ashes of a kingdom they burned down together, I’ll be seated. I’ll be glued to my throne made of expectations and spite.
Now, on the plot pacing — she meandered. We were on the road so long I felt like I aged a decade and earned a loyalty card from every bump on the road in the realm. Half the book was one single journey and the return trip was wrapped up in like three pages. HOW. Did we get a fast travel pass or something? Not much happened during the travelling either, and definitely could have been edited down.
Despite that, the writing style was immersive, the worldbuilding was brilliant, and the ending? Pain. Beautiful, delicious pain. Thera, my beloved, I’m fully here for your villain era. Burn it all down. Light a match and never look back.
All in all: four solid stars. Could’ve been five if the MMC had a personality transplant sooner and the road trip was less Middle-earth Extended Edition. Still, I’ll be first in line for book two, snacks in hand, waiting for the FMCs to hold hands and destroy the world.
June 21, 2024
Book one of the Elysian Saga is a high fantasy tale with dark magic, political intrigue, slow-burn FMF love-triangle romance and mild spice. Told from the POV of three main characters: Strong, shadow magic-wielding FMC King Thera (not Queen - no softness here!), feisty and sarcastic FMC warrior Rory, and the seemingly weak and spoilt MMC Prince Caelum. Each must work together (for now) to face the impending threat from the shadowborne monsters by creating a marriage alliance between their two (enemy) kingdoms. After making the dangerous journey from her underworld kingdom to the shining city ruled by Caelum and his father, Thera has only her wits and closest allies to help her uncover the truth and save both kingdoms from ruin.
In a delightful reversal of the typical gender roles, to save her people, morally-black Thera is marrying herself off to the soft and kind-hearted Caelum, who is defended by his secret admirer and viciously royal female Captain of the Guard (Rory). The banter between these characters is my favourite part of this story (as well as the fantastic world-building) and the tension (both aggressive and sexual) is full intensity throughout.
If there is anything I’m not keen on it would be the MMC Caelum – especially for the first half of the book. He is pitched as a naive innocent, but he comes across as spoilt and oblivious - viewing the things that happen to others through their impact on him and his emotions. His only redeeming quality is that he is open minded enough to see the good in Thera where everyone else is blinded by hate.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story for its twists and turns. The political intrigue, world-building and banter will keep you hooked for all 550 pages. I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy that don’t want to get lost in too much detail, but still want all the murder, betrayal and character development.
For transparency, I was delighted to receive an e-ARC copy of this book for review ahead of its release and look forward to supporting the rest of the series.
In a delightful reversal of the typical gender roles, to save her people, morally-black Thera is marrying herself off to the soft and kind-hearted Caelum, who is defended by his secret admirer and viciously royal female Captain of the Guard (Rory). The banter between these characters is my favourite part of this story (as well as the fantastic world-building) and the tension (both aggressive and sexual) is full intensity throughout.
If there is anything I’m not keen on it would be the MMC Caelum – especially for the first half of the book. He is pitched as a naive innocent, but he comes across as spoilt and oblivious - viewing the things that happen to others through their impact on him and his emotions. His only redeeming quality is that he is open minded enough to see the good in Thera where everyone else is blinded by hate.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story for its twists and turns. The political intrigue, world-building and banter will keep you hooked for all 550 pages. I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy that don’t want to get lost in too much detail, but still want all the murder, betrayal and character development.
For transparency, I was delighted to receive an e-ARC copy of this book for review ahead of its release and look forward to supporting the rest of the series.
June 22, 2024
I could not stop reading this! From the first chapter, I loved the writing style. Introducing the main characters at birth, from another’s perspective. Giving some foreshadowing into their destinies in the story. The plot was unexpected and unique. The setting was almost heaven and hell- darkness and ruination vs light and wealth. The upworlders needing land and the Erebushi needing resources. The wastefulness and scarcity of resources represents much of the world’s problems today, so super relatable. The royals hoard the wealth- greedy for more power and always plotting schemes.
Stronger, morally grey FMCs and a tender-hearted MMC. I loved the reverse roles and struggles each character faced mentally. Thera was a king, but alone in the shadows. She missed her mom and hated what she was forced to become… the Sykagos, user of Skia magic. She was a monster to many, including herself. Hiding behind her skills and confidence, she opened herself up to others only to be betrayed. Will she ever be pieced back together? Caelum was a sheltered prince that just wanted to be more. He wanted to experience life, to stop needing others to protect him, to be a man and a King. He wanted what Thera was to her people. Rory was the problem in all aspects. Caring too deeply has a cost, and she will lose again and again for love. She thinks bargaining with the King will save her loved ones. Rory loves Caelum, Caelum loves Rory, Caelum wants Thera, and Rory wants Thera. But do they really want the person in front of them or just who they think they are?
Sorry this book was just outstanding in every way! If you like fantasy, with politics and war that is not overbearing, some romance, and interesting magic… this is the book for you. Elven, FEMALE shadow KING!!!! 🥵🥵 maybe a shadow daddy??? 🤭 definitely bonds and tattoos ( sorry Jules, but I love you too), love triangle, rebellion, schemes, worldbuilding and emotional damage ❤️🩹
Thank you to Lina for this amazing book and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
Stronger, morally grey FMCs and a tender-hearted MMC. I loved the reverse roles and struggles each character faced mentally. Thera was a king, but alone in the shadows. She missed her mom and hated what she was forced to become… the Sykagos, user of Skia magic. She was a monster to many, including herself. Hiding behind her skills and confidence, she opened herself up to others only to be betrayed. Will she ever be pieced back together? Caelum was a sheltered prince that just wanted to be more. He wanted to experience life, to stop needing others to protect him, to be a man and a King. He wanted what Thera was to her people. Rory was the problem in all aspects. Caring too deeply has a cost, and she will lose again and again for love. She thinks bargaining with the King will save her loved ones. Rory loves Caelum, Caelum loves Rory, Caelum wants Thera, and Rory wants Thera. But do they really want the person in front of them or just who they think they are?
Sorry this book was just outstanding in every way! If you like fantasy, with politics and war that is not overbearing, some romance, and interesting magic… this is the book for you. Elven, FEMALE shadow KING!!!! 🥵🥵 maybe a shadow daddy??? 🤭 definitely bonds and tattoos ( sorry Jules, but I love you too), love triangle, rebellion, schemes, worldbuilding and emotional damage ❤️🩹
Thank you to Lina for this amazing book and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2024
I really wanted to like this one. It has so much going for it: a compelling premise with high stakes and political intrigue, a fantasy world unlike anything I've encountered before, some genuinely horrifying beasts, imperfect characters you want to fight for, and a potentially queer love triangle. All good.
What didn't work for me was...well, the writing. I found myself skimming over repetitive characterization, and wishing the dialogue was better (more clever) and the plotting tighter. As I'm looking back at the book, what also didn't work for me was the constant heightened emotions of all three main characters. They all emote intensely all...the...time. There's never a break, and each has one or two primary emotions they constantly sit in -- so much so that they become tropes and the plot suffers for it. This is intensified by the author's use of short sentences, sentence fragments, and phrases that indicate just how much each character is suffering. I'd actually love to do a deep dive into the novel's use of adjectives and verbs. I have a feeling they'd corroborate the manufactured drama that made it hard for me to take the story seriously.
Based on all of the other reviews, I know I'm in the minority on this one and I'll still recommend it to YA fantasy loving readers. It just wasn't for me.
What didn't work for me was...well, the writing. I found myself skimming over repetitive characterization, and wishing the dialogue was better (more clever) and the plotting tighter. As I'm looking back at the book, what also didn't work for me was the constant heightened emotions of all three main characters. They all emote intensely all...the...time. There's never a break, and each has one or two primary emotions they constantly sit in -- so much so that they become tropes and the plot suffers for it. This is intensified by the author's use of short sentences, sentence fragments, and phrases that indicate just how much each character is suffering. I'd actually love to do a deep dive into the novel's use of adjectives and verbs. I have a feeling they'd corroborate the manufactured drama that made it hard for me to take the story seriously.
Based on all of the other reviews, I know I'm in the minority on this one and I'll still recommend it to YA fantasy loving readers. It just wasn't for me.
August 17, 2024
This was such an interesting story!! It definitely kept my interest while reading.
I really liked that it was enemy kingdoms trying to form peace through marriage. But there are other things happening in the background. I enjoyed seeing the interactions of our characters also. The world building wasn't anything in depth, but it was perfect for the story!
Our 3 main characters we follow are Thera, who is very independent, from another kingdom, and a sort of lonely girl but won't let people mess with her. Caelum is our price from another kingdom who Thera is trying to make peace with and marry, he is a very innocent and sort of weak person. And lastly, we have Rory, who is Caelum's guard but also a long-time friend who is also very desperate.
There is lots of magic, danger, politics, romantic feelings budding, high stakes, and even a mmc who is in need of help instead of it being the other way around! The pace for me was pretty well balanced throughout the book till the end, where we go full speed!
I am excited to see where book 2 brings us after how the end of this book was!!
I did receive this as an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Lina for this opportunity and such an amazing book!
I really liked that it was enemy kingdoms trying to form peace through marriage. But there are other things happening in the background. I enjoyed seeing the interactions of our characters also. The world building wasn't anything in depth, but it was perfect for the story!
Our 3 main characters we follow are Thera, who is very independent, from another kingdom, and a sort of lonely girl but won't let people mess with her. Caelum is our price from another kingdom who Thera is trying to make peace with and marry, he is a very innocent and sort of weak person. And lastly, we have Rory, who is Caelum's guard but also a long-time friend who is also very desperate.
There is lots of magic, danger, politics, romantic feelings budding, high stakes, and even a mmc who is in need of help instead of it being the other way around! The pace for me was pretty well balanced throughout the book till the end, where we go full speed!
I am excited to see where book 2 brings us after how the end of this book was!!
I did receive this as an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Lina for this opportunity and such an amazing book!
June 21, 2024
I received the ARC copy of this book from the author back in March. I am fairly new to the ARC world, but I am an avid fantasy reader, specifically romantasy, and I loved this book. A little bit of a slower start, but then the book goes dark and deep until it grips you fully. You are thrust into the worlds of two kings and no one is who they seem. One world has the sun’s blessings and its people thriving and the other is in its own kind of hell, shut off from the rest of the universe. One king is called the Sykagos who wants peace for her people and will enter into a marriage contract to ensure it. The other also claims to want the same, but what secrets is he hiding?
I loved that the traditional male and female roles in the main characters were reversed. A female who is called the name of King is also non-traditional but I was here for it. There was a love triangle plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, plus enemies to lovers which I also love. Towards the end some questions are answered and many are not. Definitely leaves readers wanting book two as soon as possible! This series has great potential and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story goes.
I loved that the traditional male and female roles in the main characters were reversed. A female who is called the name of King is also non-traditional but I was here for it. There was a love triangle plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, plus enemies to lovers which I also love. Towards the end some questions are answered and many are not. Definitely leaves readers wanting book two as soon as possible! This series has great potential and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story goes.
June 23, 2024
This book is a true dark romantasy, with a sunshine soft MMC and fierce warrior FMCs. Filled with political intrigue, arranged marriage, a spicy love triangle, and lots of twists and turns, this book was beautifully written!
The world building was out of this world (quite literally!) and I could picture each scene perfectly at it unfolded. I fell in love with all three of the POV characters and I was left sweating multiple times from the intensity! And the one horse scene was SO good, I adored watching that be a pivotal moment for our Prince and his future bride.
I loved how the FMC, Thera, was built as King, not a Queen. It helped create such a strong character story, and I loved how Lina showed so many different sides of her! Truly a work of art!
I rate this 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story had a lot of elements to grasp and I honestly think this book will be one I need to reread before the next one, to find more details to really pull it all together more!
The world building was out of this world (quite literally!) and I could picture each scene perfectly at it unfolded. I fell in love with all three of the POV characters and I was left sweating multiple times from the intensity! And the one horse scene was SO good, I adored watching that be a pivotal moment for our Prince and his future bride.
I loved how the FMC, Thera, was built as King, not a Queen. It helped create such a strong character story, and I loved how Lina showed so many different sides of her! Truly a work of art!
I rate this 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story had a lot of elements to grasp and I honestly think this book will be one I need to reread before the next one, to find more details to really pull it all together more!
April 14, 2024
💚This Eclipsed Crown is hands down of the best books I’ve read this year.
💚There is so much I loved about this book. It’s Game of Thrones meets Serpent and Dove meets The Shadows Between Us but with more spice!
💚I was captivated by the world building, the morally grey characters, the political intrigue, and the spice!🥵
💚And the ending! I won’t stop thinking about this one for a long time! My heart has been shattered and I probably won’t recover from this book hangover until book 2 is in my hands.
💚if you are a fan of
- Enemies to lovers
- Love triangles
- Only one horse
- Dark magic
- Sapphic pairings
- Spice
- Or political intrigue
Then definitely add this one to your list! Like seriously do it! Right now!
💚There is so much I loved about this book. It’s Game of Thrones meets Serpent and Dove meets The Shadows Between Us but with more spice!
💚I was captivated by the world building, the morally grey characters, the political intrigue, and the spice!🥵
💚And the ending! I won’t stop thinking about this one for a long time! My heart has been shattered and I probably won’t recover from this book hangover until book 2 is in my hands.
💚if you are a fan of
- Enemies to lovers
- Love triangles
- Only one horse
- Dark magic
- Sapphic pairings
- Spice
- Or political intrigue
Then definitely add this one to your list! Like seriously do it! Right now!
June 8, 2024
This eclipsed crown follows three POVs: Thera, the Shadow King of Erebus; Caelum, crown prince of Luxian and his bodyguard Rori. Thera to protect her kingdom from the Shadowborne’s attacks propose marriage to Caelum to unify their war wedged kingdoms together and their magic to defeat the Shadowborne. However both royals are hiding something and Rori is on the hunt to kill Thera against her own morals.
I really enjoyed the story being told from three PoVs even if I didn’t care for Rori’s storyline. This book was action packed and full of political intrigue. The world building was quite complex due to the political issues, but it gets more understandable through the progression of the plot.
I thought that the three MCs were well thought out. Again not the biggest fan of Rory, but the three went through a gradual growth.
The ending I saw coming simply because it’s the first book, but I’m not mad at it. It concludes the story temporarily while leaving open a ton to explore next.
I highly recommend this book if you’re into heavy political intrigue plot lines, engaging characters and plots full of action!
Thank you to the author for giving me a digital arc of this book!
I really enjoyed the story being told from three PoVs even if I didn’t care for Rori’s storyline. This book was action packed and full of political intrigue. The world building was quite complex due to the political issues, but it gets more understandable through the progression of the plot.
I thought that the three MCs were well thought out. Again not the biggest fan of Rory, but the three went through a gradual growth.
The ending I saw coming simply because it’s the first book, but I’m not mad at it. It concludes the story temporarily while leaving open a ton to explore next.
I highly recommend this book if you’re into heavy political intrigue plot lines, engaging characters and plots full of action!
Thank you to the author for giving me a digital arc of this book!
July 16, 2024
Happy Pub Day to This Eclipsed Crown and CONGRATS to Lina!!! TEC is Book 1 in The Elysian Saga and I know it just came out today but Lina I need Book 2 right now!!!
I love that we get all 3 PoV with Thera by far being my fav!! Thera, Calum, and Rory are all well written - flawed yet relatable! There's political intrigue, some fantastic spice, and expected and unexpected twists and turns!! The world building is epic and lush and this one hooks you right in so you can't put it down!
Please go pick up this dark romantasy but if you need more convincing TEC has:
🖤 enemies to lovers
🌑 love triangle
⚔️ only one horse
👑 hurt/comfort
🌗 political marriage
🖤 Dark magic
🌑 Sapphic romance
⚔️ political intrigue
👑 spice
🌗 friends to lovers
I love that we get all 3 PoV with Thera by far being my fav!! Thera, Calum, and Rory are all well written - flawed yet relatable! There's political intrigue, some fantastic spice, and expected and unexpected twists and turns!! The world building is epic and lush and this one hooks you right in so you can't put it down!
Please go pick up this dark romantasy but if you need more convincing TEC has:
🖤 enemies to lovers
🌑 love triangle
⚔️ only one horse
👑 hurt/comfort
🌗 political marriage
🖤 Dark magic
🌑 Sapphic romance
⚔️ political intrigue
👑 spice
🌗 friends to lovers
June 21, 2024
It has been wayyyyy too long since I've completely lost myself in a book, since I've thought about nothing else but my current read throughout an entire day. This Eclipsed Crown gave me that feeling back. An absolutely amazing read that pulled me in from the well throughout prologue. I absolutely loved the world building, included the quotes that started off each chapter (just another sign of the well thought and attentive detail that went into the world of Erebus and Lux). My saddest revelation of this read was that I'd have to wait a whole year before reading the next part. Lina has a way of using language and plot to grip the readers attention and leave them wanting more.
December 21, 2024
I wanted to like it.
I really really wanted to like this book more. I enjoyed figuring out who was behind the shadowborne and learning more about Thera. But I HATE the MMC. If I read that he cried one more time, I was going to lose my mind. I know it is a preference, but I do not want to read about a man who cries EVERY SINGLE DAY! No one of any gender should cry every day. I want to know what happens in the next book, but I don't think I can do it. I was hoping he was a Tamlin that we would replace, but I no longer see that happening.
I really really wanted to like this book more. I enjoyed figuring out who was behind the shadowborne and learning more about Thera. But I HATE the MMC. If I read that he cried one more time, I was going to lose my mind. I know it is a preference, but I do not want to read about a man who cries EVERY SINGLE DAY! No one of any gender should cry every day. I want to know what happens in the next book, but I don't think I can do it. I was hoping he was a Tamlin that we would replace, but I no longer see that happening.
June 26, 2024
This was a pretty interesting book.
It took me a bit to completely captivate me, as the pace was ok but the the length of the chapters for me makes it a bit harder to keep focus at all times, but in the end was worth it.
Loved to be inside the diferennce characters, to get to know them and see how they transformed with each other and how they changed as the story grown and with the different challenges that were thrown there way.
Now i can't wait to see where they going with it and what awaits them up ahead.
It took me a bit to completely captivate me, as the pace was ok but the the length of the chapters for me makes it a bit harder to keep focus at all times, but in the end was worth it.
Loved to be inside the diferennce characters, to get to know them and see how they transformed with each other and how they changed as the story grown and with the different challenges that were thrown there way.
Now i can't wait to see where they going with it and what awaits them up ahead.
did-not-finish
August 18, 2024I am shelving this on DNF for now, with a possibility of coming back later. I am just not vibing with the writing style and the story isn’t interesting to me. I may come back in the future or this may just be an abandoned one from me.
June 17, 2025
Omg…..I am hooked. I desperately need book 2 like, 5 mins ago when I finished reading. This took me on an emotional roller coaster with a secret lurking behind every page turn! My tbr just got longer because now I need to devour more of Lina’s books!
April 22, 2024
Thank you so much Lina for letting me have an ARC. This was such an exciting read. I needed the sequel yesterday. I seriously can't cope till the next book. The Elysian Saga is now my personality.
June 9, 2024
So good! Love the role reversals and the 3 povs. Very well written. Can't wait for the next one!
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